Fire escape



April 7, 1925.'

l.. M. L ITTLE FIRE ESCAPE Filed Aug. 21, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 April 7, 1925. l Y 1,532,767

l.. M. LITTLE FIRE ESCAPE Filed A'u'g'. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES LEON M. LITTLE, F DUBLIN, GEORGIA.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Application filed August 21, 1923. Serial No. 658,635.

To all whom 'it may concern: Y

Beit vknown that LALEON M. LITTLE, a

`citizen of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the county of Laurens and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

ThisV invention relates to fire escapes, and has special reference to a fire escape for schools and othei1 like buildings.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an impro-ved fire escape of the sliding chute type.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved tire escape wherein the chute will be made of flexible material and in which, under ordinary circumstances, theV chute will be rolled up out of reach when not in use. Y

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which will be` readily accessible from one window of each floor of a building.

l/Vith the abo-ve and other objects in view, asv will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, illus? trated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed. Y

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: Y Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section disclosing a portion of a building with the improved fire escape in position thereon.

Fig..2 is an enlarged detail section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the device.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectionon the line 11--1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail section through the chute folded up in its normal position when not in use.

Figure 6, is a detailed perspective showing certain means for holding the side walls of the chute in direct position.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, there is shown a building having a wall provided with av series of window openings indicated at 11. Secured by brackets 19. to the wall is a pair of spaced confronting angle irons 13 having hori* Zontal leg portions extending'toward each other and provided with upstanding spaced pins 14 arranged opposite each other on the twoangle irons. About these angle irons are arranged a vpair of T irons or rails 15 supported by suitable struts 16. Gn the rails 15 rests a roller or aXle 17 which is provided at each end with a grooved rope pulley 18. Mounted on the upper ends. of the rails 15 is a winding drum 19 aro-und which is wound the ropes 20, said ropes being led around the pulleys 18 and back towards the Winding drum where they are secured to suitable castings 21 mounted on the rails 15. This winding drum is also provided with a ratchet 22 engaged by a. pawl 23 which is controlled by a cor-d or wire 24, which may either run down the outside of the building or through the inside thereof adjacent the windows 11.

It is to be observed that the inclination of the structure just described is such that it is convenientV of access from at least `one window on each floor, and that the lower ends of the rails 15 are inclined downwardly at the bottom, as shown at in'Fig. 1. Adjacent these downwardly inclined portions, there is provided suitable latch means as 26 which may be swung over and hooked around the axle 17 `when the latter rolls down to the bottom. On this aXle 17 is wound a liexib'le chute which is made of canvas o-r other suitable material and which comprises a bottom portion 27 and side p0rtions Q8, the lat-ter being normally folded down on the bottomportion as shown in Fig. 5. In this condition the chute is rolled up ou the axle 17. `It is to be noted that the bottom of the chute is provided at intervals along each edge with openings 29 which, when the chute is unrolled, engage the pins or projections 141 and thus Yprevent lateralsagging. The edges of thechute are reenforced as at 30, and these reenforced portions are engageable at the lower end of the device, by arms 31 operated by a shaft carrying an operating lever 32, theA shaft being held in adjusted position by a pawl 33a engaging a shaft carried ratchet 33.

In usingrthe device it is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. In case of a lire anyy person within reach of the drop line 24 grasps the same and pulls upon it thereby releasing the rpawl 23 and permitting the aXle 17 to roll down the rails 15 until it reaches the bottom position whereupon the hooks 26 are engaged therewith. The upper` end of the chute is permanently secured to the upper end of the run way at 27 and thus it is stretched outon the angle irons 123. The side walls are then raised, and by engagement with the arms 3l, are held in the raised position so that the chute assumes a trough shape. The occupants of the building may then pass out of the windows and slide down the chute to the bottom thereof. When the fire is out and the chute no longer in use, it may be folded up and rerolled on the axle, this being accomplished by actuation of the winding drum 19 by a suitable crank.

It is obvious that the material of which the chute is made will be preferably of tireproof nature, and to this end properly tireproof canvas or any other desired material may be used.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

llt is obvious that. minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing' from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

l. In a fire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackways, and a chute normally wound on said roller and having one end connected to the upper endV of the lower trackway, said roller delivering the chute to the lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway.

2. ln a fire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackways, a chute normally wound on said roller and having one end connected to the upper end of the lower trackway, said roller delivering the chute to the lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway, and means to reroll the roller upwardly on the upper t-rackway.

In a tire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rollingl on said upper trackways, a chute normally wound on said roller and having' one end connected to the upper end of the lower trackway, said roller delivering the chute to the lower trackway during its downward moveu'icnt along' the upper trackway, means to reroll the roller upwardly on the upper t-rackway, and cooperating means on the lower trackway and chute to,

engage and hold the chute spread across the lower trackway upon unrolling thereof.

4. In a fire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackway, and a chute normally wound on said roller and having one endi connected to the upper end of the lower trackway, said roller delivering the chute to the 'lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway, said chute consisting of aflexible bottom and flexible sides normally folded on said bottom.

In a fire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackway, a chute normally wound on said roller and having one end connected to the upper end of the lower traclnvay, said roller delivering` the chute to the lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway, said chute consisting of a flexible bottom and flexible sides normally folded on said bottom, and means to reroll the roller upwardly on the upper trackway.

6. In a lire escape, an inclined frame including' upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackway,` a chute normally wound on said roller and having oneV end connected to the upper end ofthe lower trackway, said roller delivering the chute to the lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway, said chute consisting of a exible bottom and flexible sides normally folded on said bottom, means to reroll the roller upwardly on the upper trackway, and cooperating means on the lower trackway and chute to engage and hold the chute spread across the lower trackway upon unrolling thereof. y

7. In a fire escape, an inclined frame including upper and lower trackways, a roller rolling on said upper trackway, a chute normally wound on said roller and having one end connected to the upper end of the lower trackway, said roller delivering` the chute to the lower trackway during its downward movement along the upper trackway, means to reroll the roller upwardly on the upper trackway, comprising grooved pulleys on the ends of said roller, a winding drum at the upper vend of said guide ways, and ropes wound on said drum and led around said pulleys back towards the drum and there secured.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEON M. LITTLE. 

